CWB battle on 2nd June

[martin goddard]

To mark the Queen's jubilee we had an ACW battle.

Confederates defending and union attacking.
I was very rusty on the rules.
We had a good game though.

Given the chance there are a few things I would change.

Shooting
Make 1st shot 1AP and 2nd shot 3AP.

Formations
Allow only two formations. Column and line.

Scenery
Make the placement simpler.  I do like the 6ft table width.

I still like the pre game story but appreciate it can take time.

Anything that you would change?


Fear not though, it is not up for renewal at the moment.  Albeit at aged 15 it might be up for it?


martin

[John Watson]

Nothing. I think it is your best set of rules.
John

[Moggy]

Perhaps the artillery save at long range. Or perhaps have a modifier for shooting at a column. I find artillery generally ineffective as it is at anything but short range.

Maybe modify the rules on formations that the front rank can only be 1 base more than the supporting rank.  Yes I use the 4/2 formation as well for the extra base firing but feel it is unhistorical.

Apart from that little, Seems to work as it is.#


If it aint broke don't fix it!

Derek

[Stewart 46A]

After todays game,
I agree shooting AP needs to change everything else played fine.
It is a very enjoyable game and a good set of rules

Stewart

[Sean Clark]

Locally we changed saving rolls thusly

Long range, in cover 2+
Long range in open or short range in cover 3+
Short range in the open 4+


We use this for all firing. I think just line or column as formations makes sense.

Derek, 4+2 set up would be sorted if the front rank could only be 1 base wider than the second rank.

[Smiley Miley 66]

Agree with John the best set of rules in the Stable, one that definitely plays without the need for. squares. The restrictions on how you move make this game fun and make you think. If you get it wrong you can end up in the wrong formation in from of the enemy, which is very realistic by a lot of accounts.
Maybe some firing and saving tweaks if the rules were up dated but that's about it.
I was asked the other day did I know of a good set of 15mm ACW rules? A yes ! The best set around by any standards. That is a fact. I can say that without having to dress them up.
Miles

[martin goddard]

Some notes and insights.

I think CWB is the few ACW set of rules with a ground scale.
Most of the rest just make up "it looks about OK for a game" which is fine, but no reassurance of knowledge or research.

6 bases is not 18 soldiers.
6 bases is not a single regiment as in most other rules.

The standard civil war command element was the brigade not the regiment.

6 bases is a brigade made up of regiments. Usually about 3 off.

A 4+ 2 formation represents 2 regiments up and 1 regiment back. This is standard for a brigade in action. It gives some support to the front units.

A long line of 6 bases is good for firepower but very fragile if charged or taking morale, as it should be. Hence rare.  Most brigades manoeuvred by column. Columns suffer from shooting and fighting deficits.

CWB  deploys an army of 2 divisions making a corps.
That would be a proper/authentic force with which to fight a battle.

Rules that deploy 6 regiments (instead of 6 brigades) a side can only reconstruct very small battles , encounters or parts of a battle. 6 regiments does not even cover small battle like Newmarket 1864.


Hope that informs the discussion?

martin

[Moggy]

Always good to have things reaffirmed Martin. Does it really matter though? Does it make a difference if it is called a Regiment, Brigade or company?  No to my mind.

There is a command structure that works with a nice flow. Nothing complex or demanding and leaves a game that progresses with little or no hang-ups on rule points.  Still the best ACW ruleset I have played.

Derek

[martin goddard]

You are right Derek, it makes no difference at all to the mechanical side of the game.

However, it is important that the units are called "brigades" in order to make the battle narrative sound plausible. It also fits in with  the idea of Divisions and corp. Or possibly not?


martin

[Leslie BT]

So some notes on proposed amendments, home club revisions.

Put them up on the child boards for every one to use?

What else Sean needs adding.